Children In Hospital

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Children In Hospital Providing play to children and young people in hospital across Ireland and supporting their families! RCN: 20012632

Children in Hospital (CIH) has over 300 volunteers nationwide and an enormous extended community of friends, families, extended families, parents and guardians. Our volunteers work in conjunction with hospital play specialists and/or ward staff to facilitate play for sick children in 14 hospitals throughout Ireland. Volunteers go where the children are, whether this be in hospital waiting rooms, playrooms, on wards, in emergency waiting rooms, or at the bedside of a child in isolation. Play volunteers provide children with an opportunity to play and enjoy themselves which helps to reduce the stress and boredom being in hospital can cause. Quite often our services benefit not only the child but the parent as well, as parents who have spent anything from hours to weeks at the bedside of their sick child can take the opportunity to go and have a cup of tea/ something to eat/ a shower or to make a phone call or sometimes to simply get outside for some fresh air, knowing that their child will be well cared for and entertained by our trained volunteers. To join our team of Play volunteers please register your interest by contacting our office on 012903510 or by emailing us at [email protected]. If you are unable to volunteer but would like to support us in other ways please visit our website at www.childreninhospital.ie where you can become a member or donate :)

CHY: 6632 RCN: 20012632

Our Annual Christmas Coffee Morning is back once again and will be taking place on 1 December 2026 (or a date that suits...
09/10/2026

Our Annual Christmas Coffee Morning is back once again and will be taking place on 1 December 2026 (or a date that suits you).

If you would like to host your own event and brew support for families with a child in hospital, please get in touch or find more information below!

We'll send you out a fundraising pack for your coffee morning.

Contact Jackie [email protected] or visit https://childreninhospital.ie/coffee/

Recently, our Family Support Service Manager, Bess attended PROSA 2026 in Maastricht, the Netherlands. The conference br...
06/10/2026

Recently, our Family Support Service Manager, Bess attended PROSA 2026 in Maastricht, the Netherlands. The conference brought together international experts offering the latest insights in the field of procedural comfort, sedation and analgesia in pediatric care.

It was a fantastic opportunity to learn how we can work together to improve the medical experience for children and their parents-carers.

Pictured: CIH Family Support Manager, Bess with Margreet van Bergen Founding member of EAC and Hester Rippen Wagner, CEO of Stichting Kind & Zorg in the Netherlands.

We are thrilled to welcome two new members to the Board of Children in Hospital Ireland!Alex Calder is a marketing, comm...
02/10/2026

We are thrilled to welcome two new members to the Board of Children in Hospital Ireland!

Alex Calder is a marketing, communications and social media leader with more than 15 years' experience. She is currently Director of Communications at a strategic design and project management consultancy, working with public sector clients on the design and delivery of better public infrastructure. Following time spent with her child in hospital, where she saw first-hand the difference CIH makes to families, Alex became a member of CIH's Parents Advisory Board and was involved in the creation of the CIH online InformationHub.

Laura Austen-Gray works as Strategy Manager at the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman. She previously worked for Leargas, Peter McVerry Trust and also for Children in Hospital Ireland (Advocacy Officer in 2020). Laura has a lot of experience in Governance and Compliance in which she wishes to bring this expertise to the Board.

We are so proud to have such extensive experience on our board, helping to drive our work and achieve our organisation's mission.

Last weekend, we continued our volunteer appreciation event series in Dublin.We were delighted to welcome Shauna Maxwell...
25/09/2026

Last weekend, we continued our volunteer appreciation event series in Dublin.

We were delighted to welcome Shauna Maxwell, a Play Therapist connection, who led an engaging workshop on building confidence through play.

We were also joined by Jinny from Helium Arts , who led a creative collage-making workshop, exploring simple and accessible art activities that volunteers can use with young people in the hospital setting.

It was a wonderful opportunity to come together once again, celebrate our volunteers, learn new skills, and explore more ways to support children through play and creativity.

We’re already looking forward to our next volunteer appreciation event in Cork on 7th November!

As members of the European Association for Children in Hospital and Healthcare (EACH), we are thrilled to announce the n...
24/09/2026

As members of the European Association for Children in Hospital and Healthcare (EACH), we are thrilled to announce the next edition of its newsletter.

This newsletter brings together updates from EACH as well as contributions from its member organisations across Europe. You will find examples of initiatives, projects and developments led by its members — illustrating how the principles of the EACH Charter are being put into practice in diverse healthcare settings.

Read the latest edition via the link in our bio or visit - https://mailchi.mp/childreninhospital.ie/each-newsletter-21569965

Applications for our JustAsk volunteer role are still open!If you think play volunteering might not be for you, our Just...
21/09/2026

Applications for our JustAsk volunteer role are still open!

If you think play volunteering might not be for you, our JustAsk volunteer role is a fantastic way to support families arriving into CHI at Crumlin. Help ease stress with a friendly chat and help them navigate the hospital.

Weekday day times only. 2 hours once a week. Must be 18 years or older.

See our bio for more information or apply here - https://childreninhospital.ie/volunteer/

Today, our Family Support Manager, Bess attended the Eastern Region Traveller Health Network meeting, hosted by Balbrigg...
08/09/2026

Today, our Family Support Manager, Bess attended the Eastern Region Traveller Health Network meeting, hosted by Balbriggan Travellers Project to share our more about our supports and services for families with a child in hospital.

Thank you for having us Pavee Point!

This afternoon the Pavee Point Health team was in attendance at the Eastern Region Traveller Health Network meeting, hosted by Balbriggan Travellers Project.

It was a productive day of information sharing and regional coordination. Children In Hospital (CIH) shared a presentation on their services for families with a child in hospital; having clear awareness of these resources and support systems is invaluable to our ongoing fieldwork.

08/09/2026

A massive thank you to Sean, Liam and Mark for choosing to support CIH in the Chicago Marathon this October!

We are wishing them the very best of luck in their training!

If you'd like to help them reach their fundraising goal, visit - https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/SR68013781

Join us for our Annual Lecture 'Creating Space for Children's Voices in their Healthcare'.Date:       Saturday , 5th Sep...
24/08/2026

Join us for our Annual Lecture 'Creating Space for Children's Voices in their Healthcare'.

Date: Saturday , 5th September 2026
Time: 12 pm - 2 pm
Venue: The Gas Building, Trinity College Dublin, School of Nursing and Midwifery, 24 D’Olier Street, Dublin 2, D02 T283

This will be a fantastic opportunity to learn more about how we can all work together to ensure every child feels included and is made an active participant in their healthcare journey.

For more details or to register, visit - https://register.enthuse.com/ps/event/CIHAnnualLecture2026

Address

4-5 Burton Hall Road
Sandyford
DUBLIN18

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+35312903510

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